ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Solid at Home with Three Games in the Jungle

January 5, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


The Reading Royals continue their stellar play at home improving to 11-1-2 in the Sovereign Center. The Royals opened the week Tuesday night against the Japan National Team in an exhibition game. Reading, wearing 1980 USA Olympic sweaters, picked up two goals in the third period by Graig Mischler to claim a 3-2 decision. The Royals stepped back into ECHL play on Friday and Saturday against Johnstown. The Royals took both games at home against the Chiefs winning Friday 2-1 and Saturday 4-1. The Royals took a two-games-to-one lead over the Chiefs in the battle of Pennsylvania for the Keystone Cup. Reading finished the week Sunday afternoon in Trenton, New Jersey against the Titans. The Royals dropped their first decision to the Titans this season, 5-2.

Reading continues with three more Northern Division battles this week on the road. Friday, Reading takes on the Wheeling Nailers, while moving onto the old Cambria County War Memorial Saturday to battle the Johnstown Chiefs. Reading returns to Wheeling on Sunday to tangle with the Nailers for the fifth time this season.

LAST WEEK

Tuesday, December 30 vs. Japanese National Team Sovereign Center 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: Two third period goals by Graig Mischler helped lift Reading over Japan, 3-2, in the inaugural match-up between the ECHL and a Japanese National Team. Goaltender Dave Marlin, making his first start of the season, turned aside 26 shots for the victory. The Royals fired a season-high 54 shots on goal, including 26 in the final stanza.

Friday, January 2 vs. Johnstown Sovereign Center 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: The Reading Royals continued their perfect regulation record at home against Johnstown winning, 2-1. Reading got goals from Lars Pettersen and Scooter Smith (GW) to edge the Chiefs. Pettersen added an assist while defenseman Ian Turner registered his first multiple point game (2a). Terry Denike stopped 32 shots to pick up his first ECHL win.

Saturday, January 3 vs. Johnstown Sovereign Center 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: Three points by forward Graig Mischler paced Reading, as they defeated Johnstown, 4-1. The Royals won for the second consecutive night against their division foe, moving to 2-1 versus the Chiefs this year. Cody Rudkowsky stopped 31 shots for his 13th win of the season. Ian Turner picked up two assists, giving him four points over his last two games.

Sunday, January 4 @ Trenton Sovereign Bank Arena 3:00PM

GAME NOTES: Reading lost for the first time in four outings against the Trenton Titans, 5-2. Reading's bright lights included Scooter Smith and Peter Hay who each registered a goal and an assist. Trenton was led by Matt Zultek (1g, 1a) and Scott Bertoli (2g, 1a) and goaltender Andrew Allen who stopped 36 of 38 shots.

THIS WEEK

Friday, January 9 @ Wheeling Wheeling Civic Center 7:30PM

GAME NOTES: The Royals and Nailers meet for the fourth time this season. Reading is winless against Wheeling this season posting a 0-2-1 record. Reading and Wheeling will meet just one more time in Wheeling this season on March 27. The Royals are 34-26-9 all-time versus the Nailers.

Saturday, January 10 @ Johnstown War Memorial 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: The Royals and Chiefs meet for the third time in a week. Johnstown beat Reading in their only other visit to Johnstown, 3-1. Reading's two victories came last weekend in Reading in which they held the Chiefs to one goal in each outing. The Royals and Chiefs will meet six more times following this game.

Sunday, January 11 @ Wheeling Wheeling Civic Center 2:00PM

GAME NOTES: Reading has been outscored 14-8 by Wheeling in the first three meetings of this series. The Royals and Nailers will not meet until March 6, for the first of three straight battles in Reading.

ECHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE:

#17 Ian Turner 3GP TEAM RECORD: 0-1-1 STATS: 0-4-4 (+5) - Registered back-to-back mult. Pt. game

The Belleville, Ontario native recorded his second impressive week with a short Royals defensive corp. Turner recorded back-to-back multiple point assist games against Johnstown Friday and Saturday nights. In addition, Turner led the Royals with a +5 rating.

IAN TURNER 6'1" 200LBS HOMETOWN: BELLEVILLE, ON DOB: 10-13-81

LAST YEAR: RICHMOND (ECHL) AMATEUR CLUB: LONDON (OHL)

ECHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE:

#1 Terry Denike 1GP RECORD: 1-0-0 GAA: 1.00 SPCT: .970% TEAM RECORD: 2-1-0

Terry Denike, in his third start with the Royals, secured his first ECHL win 2-1 over Johnstown Friday night. Denike stopped 33 of 34 shots allowing just one goal to improve his record to 1-1-1.

TERRY DENIKE 6'2" 205LBS HOMETOWN: BURLINGTON, ON DOB: 4-16-81

LAST YEAR: LSSU (CCHA) AMATEUR CLUB: LSSU (CCHA) DRAFT STATUS: 2001-LA KINGS-5TH RD.- 152ND

IN THE COMMUNITY: The Royals face off at Casa Grande each week during the season with Royals Weekly and Royals Roundtable. Royals Weekly can be heard live on ESPN Radio, 1240AM from Casa Grande at 6-7 p.m. This week's guests include: #19 forward Lars Pettersen and #11 forward Dave Stewart. Your calls are welcome at the show by dialing 866-ROY-ALS3!. FREE PRIZES ARE GIVEN AWAY TO THOSE WHO ATTEND FROM THE CINEMA CENTER OF READING, SCREPESI'S DELI, SUPERCUTS, HOLLYWOOD VIDEO, SENOR TACO AND MORE!

Wednesday 1/7/04 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM @ Viva Good Life Bistro & Lounge ROYALS CHARITIES POWER PLAY LUNCHEON $20/person - portion to benefit Royals Charities

TEAM STREAKS:

· The Royals rank 5th in the league in goals against per game (2.52)

· Royals power play and penalty kill remain in the top five of the ECHL...power play (21.4%-4th) penalty kill (87.3%-5th)

· Reading set a club record 8 straight wins at home which is also an ECHL high this season (11/16-12/21)

· Royals have the second best home record in the ECHL outscoring their opponents in the Sovereign Center 2 to 1 (42-21)

PLAYER STREAKS:

· #4 Defenseman Jason Maleyko is tied for first among ECHL defensemen in shorthanded points (2)

· #9 Forward Judd Medak is ranked 3rd in the ECHL in shooting percentage (.226)

· #11 Forward Dave Stewart is tied for 2nd in major penalties in the ECHL (14)

· #16 Forward Peter Hay leads the Royals in game winning goals and is tied for 2nd amongst ECHL rookies

· #30 Goaltender Cody Rudkowsky ranks among the elite in the ECHL – GAA – 2.25 (5), saves – 696 (3), shootout wins – 3 (1), overtime wins – 3 (2), and shootout percentage .909 – (10 of 11 saves) (1)

TRANSACTIONS:

12/30/2003 Add DAVE MARLIN (G) signed as emergency back-up

1/2/2004 Add MAT SNESRUD (D) returned from Manchester (AHL)

1/2/2004 Delete PETER HAY (F) loaned to Worcester (AHL)

1/2/2004 Add TERRY DENIKE (G) reassigned from Manchester (AHL)

1/2/2004 Add DAVE MARLIN (G) signed contract

1/3/2003 Add PETER HAY (F) returned from Worcester (AHL)

1/3/2003 Add CODY RUDKOWSKY (G) Assigned from Worcester (AHL)

1/4/2004 Delete TERRY DENIKE (G) recalled to Manchester (AHL)

TICKETS AND INFORMATION: The Reading Royals Box Office is open from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Sovereign Center. Individual tickets can be purchased at the Sovereign Center Box Office or at any TicketMaster location. To order tickets by phone, call 215-336-2000. To book a group to a Royals home game call 610-898-7825.

ROYALS ON THE AIRWAVES: All Reading Royals games, home and away, are broadcast on ESPN Radio, 1240AM and on the Royals website at www.royalshockey.com via Sportsjuice. Join the voice of the Royals, John Curtis for all the play-by-play action. The pre-game show comes your way approximately 25 minutes before the drop of the puck.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics



ECHL Stories from January 5, 2004


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